Chapter 1

The Awakening

Sudden light exploded through Joseph's retina's making his eyes burn and blink out tears. He coughed and gasped for his demanding lungs as they heaved in the life saving air. He'd woken up in a strange looking facility, and had been lying in what seemed to be a bathtub filled with an unknown liquid. voices were everywhere and equipment was humming and beeping, as everything around him seemed suddenly busy. Joseph blinked while he attempted to move his arms and legs only to find them immovable. Sudden footsteps approached the detective's tub, and Joseph was soon in the presents of having three human figures look down upon him. Two of which were wearing white biohazard suits while the other was in a business suit. Joseph listened as the one in the suite approach the side of his tub. He couldn't see well but could hear by the sound of heels approaching that it was a woman who began to type on a small computer monitor next to him. Joseph wasn't sure what was happening but judging by the sound of the heart beeps on the machine next to him, it must mean he was alive. But for how long? He wondered.

"Heart rate is low, but all other vital signs are in check. You can take the subject as planned. Use a sedative if you have to, but do your best not to harm him. He's still useful to us." The woman in the suit says while she types on the computer's keyboard.

"That voice, why does it feel so familiar?" Joseph wondered but his thoughts were soon forgotten as his body was lifted out from the tub. The dry air made his body feel cold from his damp clothing. Yet his body still hung limp as the two figures dragged him away. From then on Joseph had no idea were he was going since soon after he fell into nothing but waves of consciousness. One moment he was being pushed into an operating room on a gurney, the next he was being loaded into an ambulance. Everything felt hazy and then, nothing but darkness.

When Joseph finally came to, he found it super difficult to see. Out of instinct he felt the side of his head only to realize his glasses had been removed. Desperate, he groped around in search of his precious eyewear. Reaching to the side he could feel what felt to be a bed railing. Using it for support Joseph carefully adjusted himself on the bed so that he could reach for a table or something that his glasses could be laying on. Finally, after moments of panic Joseph felt the very familiar plastic of his favorite glasses and quickly grabbed them off the nightstand that lay by his bed. Once his familiar eyewear was back on he couldn't help but find himself in a surprising environment. He was in a nicely lit bedroom that was

furnished with an arm chair, Lamps, picture frames of logged cabins, and even a Bookshelf filled with books. However, camping attire aside there was still the matter of the out of place medical equipment that distracted joseph from the rest of the room. Of Corse he didn't mind lying on a comfy hospital bed. However, there was the question as to why he was wearing a pare of scrubs while also being attached to a heart monitor that made him seriously question on where he was. What is this place? why was I brought here? More importantly who brought me here? Joseph questioned. He then looked down at his legs and attempted to move them. To his great relief he was able to move both legs just fine. After that he flexed both his arms and wiggled each finger and toe. Once Joseph knew his body was once more fully functional he swung his legs over the bed and removed the heart monitor's attachment from his finger. Looking down at his feet he took a deep breath and carefully stood himself up from the bed. As soon as he put full weight on his legs he could feel the muscles tensing up from the lack of use. Determined though, Joseph carefully took a step forward. Just as he did so his legs began to wobble, so he used the hospital bed's railing to help him travel around the bed to head towards the bedroom door on the other side of the room. After a long and tiring effort Joseph finally made it to the room's door which led to a short hallway that would either lead him to the bathroom or what looked to be a kitchen.

"I should probably splash some water on my face, that should wake me up enough to keep me on my feet." Joseph thought to himself as he carefully made his way to the bathroom's sink. He took a look at himself in the mirror and realized how sickly he actually looked. His skin was paler then usual and he had dark circles under his eyes. It almost looked as though he hadn't slept for days.

"what kind of night mare have I woken up from?" he began to wonder.

As originally planned Joseph returned to his initial goal and turned on the sink faucet. He was just about to splash his face with cold water when suddenly he was interrupted by the sound of the front door of the house opening. Joseph immediately turned the sink off on impulse. Silence, Joesph's heart was ponding hard in his chest as he awaited to hear the source to the sound. Heeled foot steps could be heard as they walked along the wooden floors. That sound, he recognized those heels from before. It had to belong to the same woman he'd heard before. Out of instinct he moved his hand toward were his gun holster would be, but quickly realized he had no gun. In fact, besides his glasses non of his original attire was on him. He only had those plain turquoise scrubs, which he must have acquired sometime before arriving to this odd place. Gun or no gun though Joseph was going to find out who this intruder was. With great caution Joseph peaked his head around the corner. He could clearly see the intruder down the hallway as they placed plastic bags on the kitchen counter. It was indeed a woman as he had predicted. Careful not to be spotted Joseph watched her in silence as she unloaded the bag of groceries she had brought. From appearance she was estimated around 5'9 (175 cm) in height and was wearing a white blouse with dark colored jeans.

"no, it couldn't be, could it?" Joseph was in utter shock. If it wasn't for the support of the door frame joseph may have fallen to the floor from the sudden surprise. Joseph hid back inside of the bathroom. He needed a moment. No, what he really needed was to be sure he was right. he needed to know if this was reality or just another dream. With great ease, Joseph quietly left the bathroom and slowly made his way down the hallway. The woman didn't seem to hear him as she continued her way around the kitchen by putting food in the fridge and cabinets.

After making his way down the hallway, Joseph adjusted his glasses at the kitchens entrance and instantly recognized the woman's short brown trimmed hair. He swallowed hard, but his mouth felt completely dry. It really was her. Out of all people, what was she doing here.

"Kidman?" Joseph called out.

The young woman stopped immediately at the sound of her name. there was a sudden pause between the two detectives. After a per 5 seconds, Kidman finally turned her head toward her former partner.

"Hello Joseph, welcome back to the real world."

(Authors note: and here's the official first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I still have so much more in store. And I hope its meets to your liking too. As I look forward to writing more.)